Golf practice game



Feb. 28, 19280 4 1,660,339

A. R. KAUFMANN GOLF PRACTICE GAME Filed NOV. 23, 7.927

W ftorney mama Feb- 28,1928

' UNITED STATES ALBERT R. KAUFMANN, F BIRMINGHAM,

GOLI' r'nnc'rrcn ems.

Application filed November as, 1927. Scrial'lio. 285,281.

My invention relates to game apparatus, more particularly to a game employing a projected ball, and has for its object the pro vision of apparatus of the character designated which shall include a target and means responsive to a predetermined force of the projected ball for'indicatilig when the target is struck.

A more particular object of ,my invention 1 is to provide a target, for golf practice which shall be so arranged that varioiis portions thereof, each inthe line of flight of a ball when fairly struck and which would have traveled a certain minimum distance had it not met such portion of. the target, and to provide means responsive to the impact force of a ball so projedted or driven, to indicate the portion of the target struck. a v

A still further object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus employing a projected ball and wherein the player shall ave visually indicated to him the line of trajectory of the ball when projected with a predetermined minimum force.

Golf game practice apparatus, as heretofore known to me,chas usually comprised a simple net into which the ball is driven. Apparatus has been proposed where the net is divided into various pockets which catch the driven ball,the variouspockets having different assigned values, thus rendering the practice set a means for competition between players. In some of the practice apparatus which has been pro osed, means have been added for indicating w en a ball has entered a particularpocket in the net or target. As is well known, t hetra 'ectory a ball may take from a golf tee when driven at a target only a few feet away is not dependent-upon the force or accuracy with which the ball isstruck. A ball which has been topped or which has otherwise been faultily struck and which, in a golf ame on open fairways.

mi ht only travel a. ew yards, might have a tra ectory on leavin the tee correspondmg to that of a ball fairly hit and capable of relatively long flight.

- In accordance with my invention, I have provided a golf practice fame embodying 5.0 the usual target and divi ed into zones atdifferent elevations in the line of fli ht of a elf-ball when fairl struck and whic would.

ave traveled a fairly uniform distance when so struck had it not met with the target. As-

sociatedwith each of these zones is an indi- I clubs and another value for iron clubs. By

the'use of my improved apparatus, therefore, a player may better ju go as to the improvement of his skill in ractice.

Apparatus embodying eatures of my invention is illustrated in tlf accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional vievt taken-along the line IIof Fig. 2 and showing a longitudinal section through the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1 and showing the target in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for operating the indicating devices of my apparatus, and; v

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an electric circuit which may be employed with my improved apparatus.

Referring to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a tar-. get indicated generally at 10 and sup orted by frame work embodying back and si e suports 11, 12 and 13. The target is flanked y netting as at 14 and 16 and t e up er portion of the target is preferably provi ed with an upwardl extendin protecting netting 17 Extending across t e target, at the front thereof, are a plurality of strips of canvas 18 each folded to a V-shape, as shown, and supported at the vertex of the V by a transversely extending rope 19.

The stri s 18 are spaced rality of orwardly flaring openm 21 at different heights of the target an behind each of these openings is placed a yieldable member 22 which ma be made of strips of canvas or netting-an which extends entireacross the target. The-vertices of'the V- to provide a pin-- l shaped strips18 are directed forwardly of jected ball against a member for opening and closing the circuit.

2. In a golf practice game, target supporting means, V-shaped strips extending across the target and attached at each end to the supporting means to define openings at various heights and to provide means for deflecting a projected golf ball through the openings, a member arranged to the rear of each opening and rigidly secured to one side of the supporting means, yieldable means for connecting the member to the other'side of the supporting means, an electric circuit including visual indicating means associated with eachof the members, and means operated by the impact of a projected ball against a member for opening and closing the circuit.

- 3. In a golf practice game, target support ing means, V-shaped strips extending across the target and attached at each end to the supporting means to define openings at various heights and to provide means for deflecting a projected golf ball through the openings, a member disposed to the rear of each opening and rigidly secured to.one side of the supporting means, yieldable means for connecting the member to the other side of the supporting means, an electric circuit including visual indicating means associated with each of the rearwardly disposed members, means operated by the impact of a projected ball against a member for opening and closing the circuit, a tee from which a ball may be driven against the target, and other circuit. closing and opening means disposed adjacent the tee.

4. A golf practice game as set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided to adjust the yi'eldable means connecting the rear members and the supporting means to vary the force required to open and close the cirwit 5. A golf practice game embodying a pair of vertically disposed side frame members, a plurality of strips of yieldable material extending horizontally across from one frame member to the other andfolded rearwardly to provide forwardly flaring openings at Virious heights, a reinforcing and supporting member in the forwardly-projecting portion of-each of the strips and secured .0 the side frame members, a strip of yieldabie material disposed to the rear of each of the openings and rigidly secured at one end to on; of the side frame members, a spring connecting the other end to the other side frame member, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a tee from which a ball is driven toward the openings, a three wire electric circuit associated with each of the rearwardly disposed strips of material, a light operated by each circuit, a switch in each circuit and operated by impact of a golf ball against its associated rearwardly disposed strip of material when said ball has sufiicient'momentum to overcome the tension of the spring, and a'second manually operable switch in each of the circuits disposed adjacent the tee.

6. A golf practice game as set forth in claim 5, in combination with an inclined trough extending beneath the rearwardl disposed strips of material into which a ba striking the material drops, and a second inclined trough extending forwardly to the tee to return the driven ball.

In testimony whereof I, ALBERT R. KAUF- MANN, afiix my signature.

ALBERT R. KAUFMANN. 

